Pia Desideria

by Philipp J. Spener

This classic work, first published in 1675, inaugurated the movement in Germany called Pietism. In it a young pastor, born and raised during the devastating Thirty Years War, voiced a plea for reform of the church which made the author and his proposals famous. A lifelong friend of the philosopher Leibnitz, Spener was an important influence in the life of the next leader of German Pietism, August Herman Francke. He was also a sponsor at the baptism of Nicholas Zinzendorf, founder of the Moravian Church, whose members played a crucial role in the life of John Wesley.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Christian, Christian Living, History, Spirituality, Church History

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1675

Reviews

[Anne Michal]

Long review incoming…

If you’ve talked to me this year, I’ve probably yapped about our need for a free third space for people to hang out in that isn’t online. Then I’m reading this book from the literal 1600s and he starts talking about our need for spiritual third spaces (my words) and I’m like wait what??? Anyways I loved his idea that we need a third space outside of public and private reading and hearing the word for us to be able to grow in our understanding and love of the lord. It is not a space for disputing or apologetics. There’s not a teacher. Everyone comes together and shares questions they have, thoughts, and ideas from Scripture in a way that is encouraging and builds one another up. I think it would be awesome if churches stepped in and created both of these types of free third spaces. Third spaces for active spiritual growth AND active community growth that doesn’t have to be programmed. Now logistically idk how that would all work but I think the idea is worth thinking about. Anyways thanks for coming to my ted talk everyone haha.

[Kirstie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is difficult for me to rate. Spener’s grief and fervor in writing it is just and his presentation humble. He appeals to trustworthy church fathers and Lutheran reformers. He honors the sacraments. He is faithful to present his views on the basis of Scripture and theologians he respects more than himself. He is not opposed to someone having better ideas.

Yet the question of better ideas remained with me throughout reading this book. The intro in my copy references the sectarianism that arose in the church after this book’s publication and the propensity toward a theology of perfectionism—not Spener’s intent, but a significant upshot nonetheless. Spener is right to have high standards for the church, and right to remind people of them—God does tell us to be perfect. But he marries his standards with expectations for a true church that, given church history, seems terribly slow in coming. (Thanks to R.L.S.D. for drawing this distinction between standards and expectations.)

“Almost everywhere,” he says, “there is something wanting in the church, except that in his inexhaustible goodness God has not taken away his Word and holy sacraments” (42). And later, “If we consult the Holy Scriptures we can have no doubt that God promised his church here on earth a better state than this” (76). Insofar as God has promised the church full redemption at the marriage supper of the Lamb, amen. But what church is there, or will there ever be, where something is not wanting? Has God truly promised a better state than this for this time, on this first earth? If he has, will we not always be deeply dissatisfied and frustrated with our churches for their sloth in improvement? If people deem the church service insufficient, as Spener indicates, to cultivate piety in the congregation, will hierarchies not begin to form and the sacraments begin to hold less sacred weight in Christians’ eyes? And why, in a book about the recovery of piety, is there so little reference to repentance?

Most, if not all Spener’s critiques seem justified. But in my estimation, despite his boldly evident love for Christ, he doesn’t achieve his purpose of effectively addressing the problems that grieve his heart, and God’s.

[Peyton Gunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finishing this while under a tornado watch. If this is the last book I read, good reads, it’s been real

Update: I lived. Also, this book was surprisingly good. I did not expect 17th century German literature to relate so much to issues today.

[John Pawlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spender is considered by many one of the fathers of German pietism, and the lasting influence of their tradition can be seen in countless evangelical churches today. I cannot count the number of times exact lines from this book have been quoted in Baptist and non-denom churches with no clue how far back these instincts go.

I have never felt more mixed emotions at a book. So much of what he criticizes in dead scholarship is good, but so many of the things he posits instead reflect false dichotomies between what it means to study and learn to the glory of God and in true devotion. I think Spener himself understood this better than many of his decedents.

This book is interesting because it encapsulates everything I love and hate about my own tradition in one work. The anti-intellectual implications clash with the beautiful descriptions of the gospel’s simplicity and the inherent clarity of the Christian gospel. I think we need to think more carefully through the benefits of studying Scripture with all the tools available to us while not in that same act attempting to become gods over the scriptures, bending to our will to suit the dead religion of our flesh. The working out of a balance takes wisdom. I’ll have to keep thinking about this!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical coming into this book due to some of the other negative comments I heard prior to reading this volume.

It was a short read, having only taken me about two hours, and I think this is a *must read* for any mid-degree seminary student. (This may come to change one my recency bias wears off).

I disagree with the Spencer’s theological positions as a Lutheran and what I perceived to be a variant of some kind of eschatology.

Nevertheless, the main contents of the book felt impactful. This was clearly written by a man who reflected deeply on what would be most beneficial to his church and at large. I may have found myself disagreeing with why he came to certain conclusions based off of those points, but the intent behind them were certainly justified.

A fresh reminder for those in the church.

[Eli Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one will ever be able to convince me that holy living can somehow be a bad thing.

[Jonah Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I loved this. There are some lines written in this book that I will remember forever.

“The blood of the martyrs has been a powerful fertilizer in the church, so that while believers seemed in the eyes of the world to be overcome, they actually triumphed. But when the devil realized that his violent and bloody persecutions accomplished nothing, for many people were so glad to suffer quick, even if terrible martyrdom that they rushed headlong into their death rather than shrink from it, he grew shrewder and started a different kind of persecution. He assailed adherents of the true religion with lingering, long lasting tribulations, sometimes by means of threats and at other times by means of promises and visions of worldly glory, more often by the removal or expulsion of faithful ministers, in order to entice people away from the known truth and at the very least to get their children and descendants to return to false religion.”
(Page 41)

[Joe Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this foundational text of Pietism, Spener addresses the spiritual depravity of the Lutheran church in his day. A wee bit antisemitic and anti-Catholic, (as Lutherans are wont to be), but his proposals to enliven the Church are as relevant today as they were in the seventeenth century.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although written to a very different milieu, this book has a lot of great practical wisdom for today. In Spener's time, dead orthodoxy was the primary enemy of faith. Nowadays it's the opposite. Nevertheless, Spener's proposals for enlivening the Lutheran church of his time provide some corrective to the opposite extremes of contemporary evangelicalism (as well as a corrective to those of us who would swing back to dead orthodoxy).

[Dakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pia Desideria is defiantly a "eat the meat and spit out the bones" kind of book, but, man, does Spener sound like he is critiquing modern conservative Lutheranism. Worth reading.

[Christopher Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Grant Carter]

Still not sure how to pronounce this but oh well

[George Herndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I pronounce it differently every time I say it.

[Dane Radigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to start to see movements that I feel are somewhat modern, as I think the modern evangelical thought I’ve grown up with has roots in this pietism movement. Was kinda funny to see the big circle start over as critics of this holiness movement were saying pietists were too catholic. Good book, but nothing I’ll rave about.

[Benjamin Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gets a bad wrap because of how some who followed Spener took things to an unhealthy extreme. However what Spener promotes and teaches in this book is simply Christianity.

[Luke Hillier · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pie Desideria" is a treatise of sorts written by Spener in response to what he sees as a growing failure among the Protestant church to live piously in accordance with their faith. He critiques clergy whose lives reflect a self-serving, worldly spirit and have not experienced genuine transformation by the Holy Spirit. This has resulted in the wider contingent of Christians reflecting such lukewarm faith, as evidenced in part by their indulgences of sins related to drunkenness, self-serving lawsuits, failure to share wealth, and lackluster service to God. Although he strongly affirms Luther’s theological articulation of justification by faith rather than works (seriously, he fawns over Luther ad nauseam), he also cedes that it has resulted in many Christians living with unhealthy disregard for the piety of their conduct, which he considers fundamental to true Christianity. He offers a series of proposals to rectify this: incorporating more engagement with Scripture, both individually and collaboratively; enactment of the priesthood of all believers among lay congregants; valuing orthopraxy alongside orthodoxy; engaging nobly and lovingly with non-Protestants so as to present a better witness; appointing ministers with Christian character and emphasizing that in their schooling; and prioritizing equipping ministers for practical ministry, with an emphasis on edifying preaching.

I honestly enjoyed it a fair bit more than I expected, though it registered through a different lens for me than Spener likely anticipated. At the core of his argument, I hear him arguing that Christians ought to practice what they preach (or hear preached), that it -matters- what we do with our lives. Obviously, as the founder of pietism, his emphasis was more oriented towards one's personal, individualistic conduct –– what we might consider one's holiness or morality. But I think the same argument could be made, more broadly, in emphasizing orthopraxy over/alongside orthodoxy, which has inherent social implications bound up in it. There are hints of that, for sure, when Spener lambasts Christians who hoard their wealth and withhold their service to their neighbor. But it's not lost on me that there are many other systemic sins Spener is ignorant to (anti-Semitism and a hatred of Catholicism are on full display here), revealing how he's failed his own standard. However, his point wasn't necessarily to claim perfection, but to charge the church to pursue it. We may have different visions for what that means, but I share in his hope for Christians to live in radical alignment with the Gospel and his lament that this is yet to be the case.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spener wrote his treatise on Christian living in 1675 but he might have written it today. In it he admonishes the Church on not conforming to the world and how much the Christian body has, in fact, rendered itself almost indistinguishable from non believers in how they think, conduct their lives or ignorance of doctrinal truth. It's a short, readable book and I highly recommend it.

[Benjamin Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for good Pietism.

[Drake Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many books have been written about the Reformation. Fewer have been written in reaction to the Reformation. Many who have an interest in Reformation history do not consider the important reaction of pietism to the German Reformation. In 1675, Philipp Jakob Spener wrote this treatise which inaugurated the movement called Pietism. His short book addressed the importance of the reformation of the inner man in conduct in contrast to the reformation of the mind.

His book is divided into four parts. He addresses the circumstances in which he writes. Spener then continues to speak about the corrupt condition in the church that has affected civil authorities, clergy, and common people. As he moves to the third section, he addresses the possibility of better conditions in the church. He concludes by arguing for six ways to correct the church. These include more use of Scripture, more involvement from the laity, practical knowledge of Christianity, more irenic conduct in addressing religious controversies, reforming schools and universities, and finally preaching with a purpose.

While older literature, like books from the 1600's are not at the top of everyone's reading list, this book is easy to read. The sentences are short and the wording is understandable. Theodore Tappert has provided an easy to read translation. Those who do not have an appreciation of pietism will have an accessible book.

Tappert also provides a clear introduction that is to the point. In twenty pages, he places Spener's book in relation to the Thirty Years War, provides a brief biography of Spener, recounts his literary achievements, and connects him with other figures such as Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, Johan Arndt, and John Tauler.

One drawback of the Tappert's presentation is found in the appendices. Spener had solicited comments on his Pia Desideria. He then wrote responses. Tappert has not provided these within his translation, although he does represent the Table of Contents from the subsequent additions.

If you are interested in Reformation history and responses to it, you should read this important primary source for Pietism.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing as he was in the context of post-Lutheran Reformation Germany in which the State controlled the life and politics of the Church, one can understand his irenic approach and heartfelt appeal to heartfelt religion. It is well written. His writing reveals a man of humility and generosity. He has a genuine man-crush on both Luther and Johann Arndt, the Lutheran mystic who was his most immediate influence whom he also believed to possess the spirit most representative of the best of what Luther himself represented.

That said, I still find the language so (E)vangelical as to be unhelpful in the broader context of Christian spiritual development. He is so driven by biblical and preaching concerns as to be utterly dismissive of that more imaginative mystical spirit of pre-Reformation Christianity he so ardently seeks to escape. Although he quotes some of the early Patristics, like many Reformers and Reformer-friendly theologians, he effectively discounts over five hundred years of Christian, albeit Catholic, theology and Christian practice upon which Luther himself was founded and in which he was so deeply rooted.

I see here the beginnings of the feel good (e)vangelicalism we are forced to endure in the modern era. It is a pool far too shallow to contain the mysteries of faith and Spirit. Journeys of faith become journeys of assent, even as he makes the case against as much. If I'm too stupid to understand Bible readings or sermons; if I'm deaf and can't hear them; if I just don't care to, I'm out of the club. Faith as something meant to save me, not form me.

Religion is rent from the soul and placed in the head and heart. If I can't think it or feel it sufficiently I am apparently a polemicist, a heretic, or worse. A good and necessary read. But, yet another example of why I've been walking away from this for decades now.

I need to swim in water deep enough it could drown me. Not just a tepid bath meant to clean me up.

[Jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

While Spener is significant for the German Pietist movement (and is therefore important to understand for his influence on Kant), this book leaves a lot to be desired. Spener has a few good points, such as the importance of clerical virtue (105-115) and the centrality of the Scriptures in ministry (87-92). However, he is often polemical and rarely defines his terms. For example:

"If we limit ourselves to our Evangelical church, which according to its outward confession embraces the precious and pure gospel, brought clearly to light once again during the previous century through that blessed instrument of God, Dr. Luther, and in which alone we must therefore recognize that the true church is visible, &c" (40).

Spener never defines evangelical and appears to possesses, if not a great admiration for Luther, something like a fond appreciation.

"Subtleties unknown to the Scriptures usually have their origin, in the case of those who introduce them, in a desire to exhibit their sagacity and their superiority over others, to have a great reputation, and to derive benefit therefrom in the world" (56).

Reading Spener uncharitably means that this passage excludes the statements of faith drawn up at Nicaea and Chalcedon, for both introduce "subtleties unknown to the Scriptures," such as the substance of Christ and his two natures. While Spener's critique is legitimate to a degree--we should be careful to speak where Scripture is silent. However, even though we should be careful does not mean we should be silent altogether. The Scripture is a book that must respond (but not adapt) to the cultural moment. Doing so will require us to read it in fresh ways--as Luther himself did, of course.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to get the gist of Pietism, start here. Simple reading. Moving reading. Still relevant in many ways though I get how Pietism can quickly turn into revivalism though that would come later. Pietism doesn't have to equal revivalism.

Good quotes:

At his death on Feb. 5, 1705, Spener ordered that his coffin should not be painted black. "During my life," he was reported to have said, "I have sufficiently lamented the condition of the church; now that I am about to enter the church triumphant, I wish to be buried in a white coffin as a sign that I am dying in the hope of a better church on earth" (24).

"When men's minds are stuffed with such a theology which, while it preserves the foundation of faith from the Scriptures, builds on it with so much wood, hay and stubble of human inquisitiveness that the gold can longer be seen, it becomes exceedingly difficult to grasp and find pleasure in the real simplicity of Christ and his teaching" (56).

[Tahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book and it is one of my all time favourites. It gives wonderful insight into the beginning of German pietism and also how the very concept of bible studies came to be

I also loved Spener's warning about being cluttered with theological obsession and getting into endless disputes rather than being marked by the love of God that should in theory set Christians apart, very relevant with a lot of the inter-denominational conflict we see today

[Riley Brysch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read with some memorable quotes for those pursuing a theological education or a vocation in ministry. There are parts of the book where the book's instructions are a bit dated for the modern reader, but that is to be expected with a book that is giving ministry instructions and training to ministers in 1675.

[Josh Trice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spener gives us a wonderful work full of insightful tidbits of truth that are hauntingly applicable even in today's world. I was wonderfully surprised by this little book and the punch it packed. I recommend to all ministerial leaders, those looking for work on Spiritual Formation and/or edification of one's own walk of faith.

[Jeff Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars. Fascinating to read that the apathy that has plagued the church is not new. Appreciated Spener's call for true faith over intellectual knowledge.

Also, he really likes John Arndt's True Christianity...

[Joseph Henry Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spener's short book served as a catalyst for German pietism. Noteworthy for his advocacy of "small groups" within a local congregation. His six points for the reform of the church are no less applicable today.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Arndt before him, Spener could be writing for us in the church today.

[Adrian Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and still relevant.

[Dustin G. Longmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book made me realize I’m a pietist.